Southwest Michigan PTAC, now called APEX Acceleratore - What does this mean for our clients?

Grow Your Business: Sell Your Products and Services to the Government

Monthly News, Events, & Updates

Wishing you a joyous and safe holiday season. The office is closed December 23 through January 3. We look forward to working with you in 2023.

December 2022 | Issue 2022-12

Government Contracting News and Updates

Change is Coming!

The Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) is now under the management of the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and has changed its name to APEX Accelerators.

The 95+ centers, including the Southwest Michigan PTAC, will be transitioning to the new name in the coming months!

Please note, our mission and assistance will not change. We are still here to assist businesses within our service area with all things government contracting - Federal, State, local and related subcontracting.

What will be changing is our scope and resources: they will be increasing in order to do more for the businesses we assist.

So, whether we are called a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) or an APEX Accelerator, we continue to be here for you, our client, with all your government contracting needs.

WOSB Program Update

GCBD's (Government Contracting & Business Development) WOSB Woman-Owned Small Business) Federal Contract Program (WOSB Program) is pleased to announce that in response to customer service feedback, SBA (Small Business Administration) has changed the WOSB Program’s official application site website to better help firms navigate our resources: beta.Certify.sba.gov will now be https://WOSB.Certify.sba.gov .

This action is in line with the original intent for “beta” to be a temporary placeholder for a more permanent URL. Now that WOSB is two years into the certification process, our application site is permanent and consistent with other SBA site-naming conventions. We are confident that this change will enhance user experience and limit confusion around the application process.

For the next 90 days, beta.Certify.sba.gov will automatically redirect to the new website, after which time it will become obsolete. We anticipate a positive response to this change and appreciate your support in ensuring the best experience for all firms hoping to begin their federal contracting journey with the WOSB Program.

For more information about the program: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/women-owned-small-business-federal-contract-program.

Southwest Michigan PTAC Classes

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Where Do I Begin?

Learn how to sell your products and services to the federal, state, and local government. This free seminar will give you the direction you need:

January 12 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

April 11 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

June 15 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

September 26 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Orientation

Learn how to sell your products and services to the federal, state, and local government. This free seminar will give you the direction you need:

January 19 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

April 25 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

July 23 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

October 10 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Marketing & Research

Learn how to market your business to government agencies and prime contractors. Research the agencies and prime contractors that buy what you sell. Research your competitors' sales and customers.

February 9 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

May 9 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

August 3 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

October 31 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

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Govology

Govology is a collaborative community raising the competency level of small business to excel in government contracting. These are pre-recorded sessions that we will watch together.

March 9 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

June 6 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

September 14 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

December 5 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Capability Statement Preparation

When you’re ready to sell your products/services to the government, create a capability statement to share when meeting (in person or virtual) buyers for prime and subcontracting opportunities.

February 23 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

May 23 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

August 24 - 10:00 a.m. to Noon

November 14 - 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Coffee & Contracting

All are welcome to attend the Coffee & Contracting sessions. Learn about a government contracting agency, prime contractor, or resource. All take place on either the 3rd Tuesday of the month and are from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m.:

January 17 - SBA: Federal Contracting Overview

Events & Trainings

Live Govology Trainings

Experts in government contracting provide timely information in the industry.

Contact PTAC to watch these live with us for free:

swmiapex@nemcworks.org

Unless otherwise noted, these take place from 1:00 to 2:30p.m.:

January 12 - Understanding VIPR - Virtual Incident Procurement

January 17 - A Step-by-Step Guide to Registering Your WOSB

January 24 - The Ins and Outs of Federal Small Disadvantaged BUsiness Self-Certification

WISPRO Trainings

The PTAC of Wisconsin provides trainings by industry experts and government buyers/resources on a regular basis. All sessions are 1 hour and virtual unless specified otherwise:

January 10 - 11:00 a.m. CST - Acquisition Hour: The SBA 8(a) Program & Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Program

January 11 - Acquisition Hour: Overview of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) - 1:00 p.m. CST

February 1 - Acquisition Hour: Preparing a Winning Government Proposal - 11:00 a.m. CST

VetBizCentral Trainings & Events

To register for these sessions, please go to their website: https://www.vetbizcentral.org.

January 10 - 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.: VetBizCentrla Small Business Start-up Orientation (in person)

January 12 - 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.: Indiana Army & Air National Guard Entrepreneurship Training Webinar

January 18-19 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Wright Patterson AFB (Air Force Base) Boots to Business Training (in person)

DISA (Defense Information Systems Agency) & JSP (Joint Service Provider) Cybersecurity Forum

January 19 - In person & Virtual

Registration & Details

Proposal Writing & Bidding Best Practices

Winning government contracts requires proper planning and preparation. This session is designed to provide you with best practices for reviewing solicitations, preparing proposals, and steps to consider when awarded or not awarded a government contract.

January 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

No fee to attend, but registration is required.

Registration Link

Tammy Moore

APEX Accelerator Program Director

mooret@nemcworks.org

(989) 733-8540

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Kim Bourner

APEX Accelerator Counselor

bournerk@nemcworks.org

(269) 491-6585

Theresa Chaney-Huggett

APEX Accelerator Counselor

chaney-huggett@nemcworks.org

(269) 243-2787

APEX Accelerator - formerly PTAC

A free nationwide program to assist local businesses to sell to the federal, state, and local government.

This APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC) is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense. Southwest Michigan APEX Accelerator, satellite of Northeast Michigan Consortium (NEMC), is funded in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The reproduction, reformatting, and/or distribution of APEX Accelerator materials in part or in whole, in addition to the reselling of APEX Accelerator services, is strictly, prohibited.

Southwest Michigan APEX (formerly PTAC) | www.ptac4nemi.org